Orellana

Named for Francisco de Orellana (1511–46), Spanish explorer, who was the first to explore it in the 1540s.

Orellana

1. (now historical) The river Amazon.
   • 1605, Joseph de Acosta, translated by Edward Grimston, History of the Indies:

     But if we shall speake more of rivers, that great floud called by some the river of Amazons, by others Marañon, and by some the river of Orellana, which our Spaniards sailed in their discoveries, ought to blemish all the rest; and, in truth, I am in doubt whither I may tearme it a river or a sea.

   • a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Summer”, in The Seasons, London: A Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, , published 1768, →OCLC:

     From all the roaring Andes, huge descends / The mighty Orellana.

Probably of Basque origin, or from the town of Orellana in Badajoz, Spain, possibly from Latin Aureliana, see also Orell. Cf. also Orellano, orellano.

• Rhymes: -ana
• Syllabification: O‧re‧lla‧na

Orellana m or f by sense

1. a surname

Orellana ?

1. A province of Ecuador